In Atlanta United’s most recent game, their star-striker made history by becoming the player with the most hat-tricks in MLS’ records with six – which is even more incredible when Martinez only joined the club back in February 2017.
Since his arrival from Torino, the Venezuelan has taken North America’s top division by storm, notching in 41 goals in 42 games, and so far 22 in 22 in Atlanta’s current campaign, making him the top scorer with his nearest challenger being former- Saints striker Bradley Wright-Phillips on 13.
It could be argued that the league that Martinez is playing in is not as competitive as the Premier League, and of course that would be correct, liken it more to the Championship (England’s second division) but with a few more star players incorporated, despite this the stats are still outrageously good and would suggest he would make the cut.
So statistically it would make the striker an obvious target for Southampton, but what about the Atlanta star’s style of play? Going off whoscored.com, Martinez is considered to be ‘very strong’ at crossing, finishing and headed attempts which is quite surprising given his height of 5’6, holding onto the ball is also seen as a strength.
When it comes to weaknesses, the former-BSC Young Boys man is considered ‘weak’ at defensive contribution, discipline and offside awareness, though this could be down to his blistering pace which tends to be flagged more often on quicker players, due to officiating mistakes or runs not being picked up quickly enough.
Being 5’6 would also conclude the question of whether he would be physical enough to bring other players into the game for Southampton in a one-striker-system, though this what Martinez currently operates in at Atlanta United, with the help of creative players around him to create chances – which new additions Stuart Armstrong and Mohamed Elyounoussi could provide if he was to move to the south of England.
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So how about acquiring ‘The Five Stripes’ star player, surely it would cost a rather large fee to lure him away? Well according to transfermarkt, the Venezuelan is valued at an inexpensive price of £5.85m, which in this current market sounds like a bargain and too good to be true, though a bid of about double or possibly triple of that would be more realistic in luring the striker away.
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One good reason for this would be largely down to Atlanta being about half-way through their current campaign, to which MLS operates between the months of March and December as extreme weather conditions such as heavy snow takes control of America and Canada in the winter months.
The Georgia based team also currently sit top of the Eastern Conference, and the Supporter’s Shield, (given to the the team with the best record in the regular season), following this the league becomes formatted into a play-off system for the MLS cup, this being the highest honour to play for and Martinez being one of the key assets in helping to win this for an overly ambitious Atlanta United.
What would also increase the price of striker for the 2014 founded club is the ruling in which MLS treats the sale of players, in particular Martinez as a designated player (DP), “players whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge” via mlssoccer.com – a player who’s wage and acquisition costs exceeds that of the MLS’ cap and is therefore shared by the league, each MLS club being allowed three DP’s.
Ruling on if a ‘Designated Player’ is transferred, is that the club will receive all amounts of the fee revenue until it has recouped all out-of-pocket cash payments, after such the transfer shall be treated as any other transfer with the club receiving three quarters (75%) of the corresponding transfer fee revenue – therefore meaning that Atlanta would not receive the whole transfer fee upfront, one quarter going to MLS.
But with the former-Torino man being in red-hot form for Atlanta, this is the main reason as to why the American club could demand such a high fee, being able to replace him would not prove easy despite the great financial gain, and with it being a high fee to pay for a MLS player, it is one that could be worth paying for Southampton, due to what Martinez could offer to the club – that being an extremely sharp, quick and top class finisher to their ranks, the club very much needing this calibre of striker to push on.